Is there a need for a national or a global apheresis registry?

• Published in: Transfusion and apheresis science Vol. 29; no. 2; pp. 179 - 185
• Main Authors: Stegmayr, Bernd, Korach, Jean-Michel, Norda, Rut, Rock, Gail, Fadel, Fouad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2003
• Subjects: Adverse event; Apheresis; Blood Component Removal - instrumentation; Blood Component Removal - methods; Blood Component Removal - statistics & numerical data; Canada; Data Collection - statistics & numerical data; Diagnoses; France; Health technology assessment; Humans; Plasma exchange; Plasma Exchange - adverse effects; Plasma Exchange - methods; Plasma Exchange - statistics & numerical data; Registries - statistics & numerical data; Registry; Substitution; Sweden; France; Canada; Sweden; Adverse event; Plasma exchange; Registry; Substitution; Apheresis; Diagnoses
• ISSN: 1473-0502; 1878-1683
• DOI: 10.1016/S1473-0502(03)00145-9

Indications for apheresis may vary and more than 45 different diagnoses have been reported from various countries. New devices are being developed and, in the beginning their clinical implications and use are limited to detect rare but important side effects. However, to achieve more reliable information on the effects and side effects we need more extensive sampling of data. Collection of such data is considered a safety and quality issue in several countries. However, data is still limited and little is known about therapeutic apheresis practised around the world including the incidence and pattern of adverse events. The establishment of national registries and analyses of data on a global level therefore seems important. Thus the World Apheresis Association (WAA) has initiated a global apheresis registry for therapeutic procedures and collection of e.g., stem cells. The WAA registry is Internet based and the site is at www.iml.umu.se/medicin. A login code to test the registry is needed (AL61TMS). This report deals with the aim of a global registry as well as some comparative data regarding findings of the Canadian, French and Swedish registries.